Types of Therapy

All therapy options should have a parent training component. The provider should give parents training and exercises to practice skills between therapy sessions.  

Children under age 3 can receive evaluations, therapies and support for developmental concerns. This therapy is state funded.  

Find the local ECI service office by city, county or zip code

Some of the ECI providers offer a parent-child therapy program for toddlers at risk for or diagnosed with autism, called Pathways. 

Treat issues related to gross motor skills, coordination and reflexes. 

This article explains more about how PT can help people with ASD

Treat difficulties with sensory processing, possible fine-motor delays and limitations in the acquisition of age-appropriate self-care skills.

Learn more about occupational therapy as a part of autism treatment

The ability to engage in social interactions and convey emotions in an age-appropriate manner can be negatively impacted by delays and deficits in communication. Speech therapy not only works on speech, but all communication, including following directions, the use of gestures, sharing emotions, social skills and play skills. Some children with speech delays may benefit from alternative communication methods.

Explanation of alternative communication methods

A speech pathologist or occupational therapist trained in feeding disorders can evaluate for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) — being a selective eater primarily due to sensory issues around food. They also evaluate and treat other motor eating difficulties, including increased gag reflex, drooling, tongue protrusion, difficulties with chewing, a tendency to stuff the mouth and pocketing food. 

Read “Navigating the Complex Relationship Between Autism and ARFID in Children”

Feeding challenges in ASD: This guide, published by Autism Speaks, provides information about the feeding challenges associated with ASD, next steps and parent-friendly recommendations for use in the home.

Children with an autism diagnosis may benefit from specialized intensive behavioral therapy called applied behavioral analysis (ABA) to improve behavioral, social, daily living and communication skills. This type of therapy involves the use of reinforcement strategies to teach targeted skills (e.g., communication, play, social, adaptive) and reduce challenging behaviors (e.g., tantrums, self-injury, aggression, elopement). This type of therapy can be provided by a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and associated registered behavioral therapist (RBT). Research has demonstrated that this type of therapy shows the most gains when provided 20 to 40 hours a week for several years. An evaluation by a BCBA can determine the recommended hours for treatment and targeted goals.  

Articles about finding a quality ABA therapy provider:

• Help: I Don’t Know How to Choose an Applied Behavior Analysis Provider
• Questions to ask an ABA therapist
• 7 Questions to Ask ABA Providers to Find the Best Fit

Read “The Verbal Behavior Approach” by Tracy Rasmussen about how ABA therapy can be integrated at home.  

Two parent guides to ABA therapy services that further explain ABA therapy:

• ATN/AIR-P Parent's Guide to Applied Behavior Analysis
• ABA Therapy for Autism

You may also benefit from participation in outpatient psychotherapy to provide emotional support and help with parenting tools particular to your child’s issues. In particular, play therapy with a therapist who understands your child's issues may allow your child to process feelings through play, learn how to regulate behavior and/or express emotions in a safe way. A type of parent-child therapy called parent child interactive therapy (PCIT) is especially useful at building relationships and teaching appropriate parent responses to opposition, tantrums, nonresponse to directives and other behaviors. This can be done with a licensed therapist, counselor, social worker or psychologist, who has training and experience with this specific modality.

This article explains what to look for when seeking behavioral play therapy for children. Though this article addresses ADHD symptoms, the information also applies to children who struggle with managing behavior and emotion due to other reasons.